Phalaenopsis plant named &#39;White Mollie&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘White Mollie’, characterized by its upright growth habit; relatively short dark green-colored leaves; strong and relatively long flowering stems; freely flowering habit with typically about four racemes per plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers; and white-colored flowers with yellow-colored labellum.

Botanical designation: Phalaenopsis hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘WHITE MOLLIE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrida, known by the breeder's reference 291434 and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘White Mollie’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new rapid growing and freely flowering Phalaenopsis plants with good leaf shape and unique and attractive flower patterns and coloration.

The new Phalaenopsis plant originated from a cross-pollination in 2005 in Heemskerk, The Netherlands of Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Alabaster’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Phalaenopsis hybrida (‘Snow Tiger x Funny Virgin’), not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phalaenopsis plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heemskerk, The Netherlands in 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by in vitro meristem propagation in a controlled environment in Heemskerk, The Netherlands since July, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Phalaenopsis plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘White Mollie’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘White Mollie’ as a new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant:

1. Upright plant habit.

2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.

3. Relatively short dark green-colored leaves.

4. Strong and relatively long flowering stems.

5. Freely flowering habit with typically about four racemes per plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers.

6. White-colored flowers with yellow-colored labellum.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Alabaster’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘Alabaster’ in flower color as plants of the new Phalaenopsis have yellow-colored labellum whereas plants of ‘Alabaster’ have brown-colored labellum.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the male parent, (‘Snow Tiger x Funny Virgin’). Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of (‘Snow Tiger x Funny Virgin’) in flower size as plants of the new Phalaenopsis have larger flowers than plants of (‘Snow Tiger x Funny Virgin’).

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Tropic Snowball’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘Tropic Snowball’ in flower color as flowers of the new Phalaenopsis have yellow-colored labellum whereas flowers of plants of ‘Tropic Snowball’ have lighter yellow-colored labellum. In addition, labellum of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are more “open” than labellum of plants of ‘Tropic Snowball’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Phalaenopsis plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘White Mollie’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘White Mollie’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late summer in 10-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Heemskerk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typically used in commercial Phalaenopsis production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 5 klux to 10 klux. Plants were three years old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘White Mollie’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Alabaster’, not             patented.         -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis hybrida (‘Snow Tiger x Funny             Virgin’), not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem propagation.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About two weeks             at temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About 20 to 25 weeks at temperatures about 28° C. to             30° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically light yellowish             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous epiphyte; upright             plant habit with typically about four racemes per plant,             each inflorescence with numerous flowers; monopodial;             moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate             growth rate.         -   Plant height, substrate level to top of foliar plane.—About             12.3 cm.         -   Plant height, substrate level to top of             inflorescences.—About 43.1 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 32.5 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement and quantity.—Distichous, simple; sessile; about             seven per plant.         -   Length.—About 24.3 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.8 cm.         -   Aspect.—Horizontal to slightly upright and arching.         -   Shape.—Narrowly obovate to narrowly oblong; slightly             carinate.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute, unequal.         -   Base.—Sheathing.         -   Margin.—Entire; slightly revolute to non-revolute.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Camptodromous.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,             close to NN137B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to between 144A and 146B; towards the margins, close to             between 143A and 146A; venation, close to 143C. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance and flowering habit.—Showy zygomorphic flowers             arranged on axillary simple or branched racemes; typically             about four racemes per plant; each inflorescence with about             eight open flowers; flowers face outwardly on arching             inflorescences supported by upright peduncles; flowers with             three petals, two lateral petals and one center petal             transformed into a labellum and three sepals.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about two months             after flower bud initiation.         -   Flower longevity.—Long flowering period, individual flowers             maintain good substance for about four to six months on the             plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence length (lowermost flower to inflorescence             apex).—About 15.9 cm.         -   Inflorescence width.—About 13.8 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.             Shape: Broadly ovate. Color: Close to 145D and 150D;             proximally, close to 145C.         -   Flower diameter.—About 7.9 cm by 8.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Petals, quantity and arrangement.—Three, two lateral petals             and one center petal transformed into a labellum.         -   Lateral petals.—Length: About 4.2 cm. Width: About 4.9 cm.             Shape: Reniform to broadly reniform. Apex: Obtuse. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to NN155D. When opening, lower surface: Close             to NN155D; center, close to NN155A. Fully opened, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to NN155D to lighter than NN155D;             color does not change with development.         -   Labellum.—Appearance: Tri-lobed with two lateral lobes and a             central lobe. Length, lateral lobe: About 2 cm. Width,             lateral lobes: About 1.4 cm. Length, central lobe: About             3.1 cm. Width, central lobe: About 2.1 cm. Shape, lateral             lobes: Obovate. Shape, central lobe: Deltoid. Apex, lateral             lobes: Obtuse. Apex, central lobe: Cleft with two moderately             long recurved cirrose tips, about 1.8 cm in length and about             1.2 cm in width. Margins, lateral lobes: Entire; moderately             undulate. Margins, central lobe: Entire. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte.             Callosities: Located at the base of the labellum and             attachment point of the lateral petals; about 4 mm in             length, about 6 mm in width and about 5 mm in height. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Lateral lobes: Close to NN155D;             distal margins tinged with close to 157D; proximal margins,             close to 7B; basal stripes, close to 61A. Central lobe:             Close to NN155B; mid-section, close to 5B to 5C; distal             margins, close to 163C; base, close to NN155D; stripes,             close to 61A. Callosities: Close to 4B to 4C; fine dots,             close to 61A. When opening, lower surface: Lateral lobes:             Close to NN155D; distal margins tinged with close to 157D;             proximal margins, close to 7B. Central lobe: Close to             NN155B; central band, close to 145C to 145D; mid-section,             close to 1B to 1C; distal margins, close to 163C; base,             close to NN155A. Fully opened, upper surface: Lateral lobes:             Close to NN155D; distal margins, close to 155A; proximal             margins, close to 12A; basal stripes, close to 61A. Central             lobe: Close to NN155B; mid-section, close to 12B to 12C;             distal margins, close to 163A to 163B; base, close to             NN155D; stripes, close to 61A. Callosities: Close to 11D;             fine dots, close to 61A. Fully opened, lower surface:             Lateral lobes: Close to NN155D; distal margins tinged with             close to between 155C and 157D; proximal margins, close to             12A. Central lobe: Close to NN155B; central band, close to             155C; mid-section, close to 5B; distal margins, close to             163A to 163B; base, close to NN155A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three, two lower lateral             sepals and one upper dorsal sepal. Length, lateral sepal:             About 4.4 cm. Width, lateral sepals: About 2.6 cm. Length,             dorsal sepal: About 4.5 cm. Width, dorsal sepal: About             3.1 cm. Shape, lateral sepals: Ovate; slightly concave.             Shape, dorsal sepal: Ovate to elliptic; slightly concave.             Apex, lateral sepal: Broadly and bluntly acute to narrowly             obtuse. Apex, dorsal sepals: Obtuse. Base, lateral and             dorsal sepals: Truncate. Margin, lateral and dorsal sepals:             Entire. Texture and luster, lateral and dorsal sepals, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Lateral sepals: Close to 155C;             fading towards the base to close to 157D; fine dots, basal,             close to 61A. Dorsal sepals: Close to NN155B; fading toward             the margins and apex to close to NN155C to NN155D. When             opening, lower surface: Lateral sepals: Close to 145C to             145D; fading towards the margins and apex to close to 155C.             Dorsal sepals: Close to 157D; fading towards the margins and             apex to close to N155B. Fully opened, upper surface: Lateral             sepals: Close to NN155C; fading towards the margins and apex             to close to NN155D; fine dots, basal, close to 70B; color             does not change with development. Dorsal sepals: Close to             NN155D. Fully opened, lower surface: Lateral sepals: Close             to 157D; fading towards the margins and apex to close to             NN155D; color does not change with development. Dorsal             sepals: Close to NN155D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 43.7 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Upright to about 35° from             vertical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.             Color: Close to 137B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3.3 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 65° from peduncle             axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:             Close to 145A; distally, fading to close to N155B;             proximally, fading to close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Column length: About 8 mm.             Column width: About 6 mm. Column color: Close to NN155D.             Pollinia quantity: Two. Pollinia diameter (per two             pollinia): About 2 mm. Pollinia color: Close to 24A.             Gynoecium: Stigma length: About 3 mm. Stigma width: About             4 mm. Stigma shape: Reniform. Stigma color: Close to NN155C.             Ovary length: About 8 mm. Ovary diameter: About 1 mm. Ovary             color: Close to lighter than 150D. Seeds and fruits: To             date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on             plants of the new Phalaenopsis. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Phalaenopsis     have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Phalaenopsis plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 10° C. to about     40° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zone 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘White Mollie’ as illustrated and described. 